Michael Shea (American author) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Shea
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| Born | July 3, 1946 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | February 16, 2014 (aged 67) |
| Occupation | Author |
| Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Berkeley |
| Genre | Science fiction, fantasy, horror |
Michael Shea (born July 3, 1946 – died February 16, 2014) was an American writer. He wrote exciting stories in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. His book Nifft the Lean and his shorter story Growlimb both won the famous World Fantasy Award.
Contents
Michael Shea's Life and Writing Journey
Michael Shea was born in Los Angeles in 1946. His parents were from Ireland. As a child, he loved exploring places like Venice Beach and the Baldwin Hills to see the local wildlife.
He went to college at UCLA and Berkeley. He also went on two long trips, hitchhiking across the United States and Canada.
How He Started Writing
One day, while staying at a hotel in Juneau, Alaska, Michael Shea found an old book. It was called The Eyes of the Overworld by Jack Vance. This book really inspired him!
A few years later, after traveling through France and Spain, he wrote his first book. It was called A Quest for Simbilis (published in 1974). This book was a tribute to Jack Vance's stories.
Life in the Bay Area
Michael Shea worked many different jobs in the Los Angeles area. He painted houses and taught English to adults. In 1978, he met his second wife, Lynn Cesar, who was an artist and author. They had two children, Adele and Jacob.
Later, Shea moved to the Bay Area in California. Before 1987, he worked as a language teacher, a construction worker, and even a night clerk in a hotel.
His Famous Stories
In 1979, Shea published a story called "The Angel of Death." The next year, his story "The Autopsy" was nominated for two big awards: the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award.
His book Nifft the Lean came out in 1982. This book was a collection of four linked stories. It was known for its unique style, similar to other fantasy writers like Jack Vance. Nifft the Lean won the 1983 World Fantasy Award for best novel.
Shea continued to write many other books. These included The Color out of Time (1984), which was influenced by the Cthulhu Mythos (a shared fictional universe). He also wrote In Yana, the Touch of Undying (1985), about a character searching for immortality.
His book Polyphemus (1987) was a collection of his science fiction and horror stories. He also wrote more adventures for his character Nifft, including The Mines of Behemoth (1997) and The A'rak (2000). These Nifft stories are known for their imaginative descriptions of demons and a mix of horror and humor.
Michael Shea's stories often blended science fiction and fantasy. He was very interested in the Cthulhu Mythos throughout his career. His collection Copping Squid and Other Mythos Tales (2010) features many of these stories.
Michael Shea passed away on February 16, 2014.
Story Adaptations
One of Michael Shea's stories, "The Autopsy," was turned into a TV show! On October 26, 2022, a dramatization of the story streamed on Netflix. It was the third episode of a series called “Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities.”
Awards and Recognition
Michael Shea won several important awards for his writing. These awards are chosen by judges at the World Fantasy Convention.
- 1983 World Fantasy Award, Novel for Nifft the Lean
- 2005 World Fantasy Award, Novella for The Growlimb
His works were also finalists or nominees for other major awards:
- 1975 August Derleth Award (best novel) for A Quest for Simbilis
- 1980 Nebula Award, Novelette for "The Angel of Death"
- 1981 Hugo Award, Novelette for "The Autopsy"
- 1981 Locus Award, Novella, fourth place for "The Autopsy"
- 1981 Nebula Award, Novella for "The Autopsy"
- 1988 World Fantasy Award, Collection for Polyphemus
- 2005 International Horror Guild Award, Mid-Length Fiction for The Growlimb
